ETX man shot; warrant pending for his arrest

A warrant is pending for an ETX man who police believe is connected to a shooting at a Tyler apartment complex, but he was the one who was shot.

Tyler police are seeking an arrest warrant for 19-year-old Sirbrycelon Shelton. Shelton is believed to have started an incident Friday morning at Varsity Place Apartments, near the UT Tyler campus.

"We saw somebody with just blood pouring out and we were scared, we were shocked," said Varsity Place resident, Lucy Morales.

Morales said she ran outside when she heard gunshots followed by screams.

The man she saw covered in blood, is now identified as 19-year-old Sirbrycelon Shelton.

"He was shot in the right hand, the bullet traveled up through his arm and out through his elbow," said Don Martin with the Tyler Police Department.

A shot police say came from 19-year-old Bradley Jackson. Jackson told police that Shelton tried to break into his apartment.

"So, he believed he was about ready to be robbed at gunpoint, so he pulled out his gun within the apartment and shot him," Officer Martin explained.

Shelton took off before police arrived, but was later found at a Longview hospital. Authorities said Shelton is being transported to a Dallas hospital for surgery.

"We will be seeking a warrant for his arrest for aggravated assault due to he pulled a weapon on him," Officer Martin said.

As for Jackson, police said it appears the shooting was in self defense. Investigators did find narcotics at the scene and said those will be analyzed.

Officer Martin said the drugs may have been a motive for the shooting.

Residents here at Varsity Place Apartments said the reasonable rent is what brought them to the complex in the first place, but after a fatal shooting on the property just last year and then Friday's shooting, they said their safety is taking a priority.

In the past few years, Varsity Place has been the scene of a fatal shooting, aggravated robbery, shots fired, and armed robbery.

"The first few months I lived here, it was great; cheap rent, it was quiet. And then, almost overnight, it got scary and dangerous, loud. I am leaving in 11 days, hopefully sooner if my place becomes vacant before then," said Lisa Sullivan who said she broke her lease with Varsity Place Apartments.

Tyler Police said they will speak to Varsity Place management about beefing up their security.